Grills

[Sandman]

Well, I'm in the market for a new grill and was just curious to see who has what. I have a real nice gas capt'n cook from bbq galore. The outside is a real nice stainless steel and it has held up well and still looks as good as the day I bought it. The problem is the grates. They just keep rusting. I already replaced them once in the 4 years I've had it. They weren't cheap then, but they've quadrupled in price. For the price to replace the grates I can buy something else. So think I may be done with the more expensive grills. I'd rather buy something cheaper and replace it every few years.

So, off to search. I've never done any grilling on anything but gas, but I've always heard that charcoal tastes better and thought about trying it. My brother has one of these and loves it:

http://www.chargriller.com/store/images/Duo.jpg
It does gas on the left side, charcoal on the right, and then you can also buy a smoke box that adds on the the right to do some smoking. I went to Lowes and saw. It didn't glow like the picture, but it is big. Including the firebox it is ~7' across. The construction is kinda flimsy, but for the price it isn't that bad. It's definitely the most versatile grill on the market. There's even several forums where you can lookup mods to make it better :) Gotta mod everything.

While I was there the sales man didn't seem too impress with these, but tried to sell me on a Char Broil Quantum. It uses "IR Heat". It really looked like a gimmick to me. They have a stainless steel plate they put above the burners with mini holes all thru out. That is what is supposed to distribute your heat evenly and make it an IR grill. It also had thermometers above each burner so you could watch your cooking zones. He said all the steak houses are moving to ir grilling because it is far superior.

So, what do yall use?

[Silver_2000]

I also have a Capnt Cook - mine is 10 -12 years old - runs natural gas - it predates the stainless ones. It has the lava rocks - my problem is that the grate that holds the lava has rusted thru again. BBQ Galore doesnt sell them anymore and in fact pretty much didnt want to talk to me since I had purchased the cheapest model they used to sell. They dont even make the Captn cook any more. In fact they have gone bankrupt and are now owned by the company that owned the company that made most of their grills.

IMO they made great grills I just didnt like the attitude of the commission sales guys who didnt want to talk to you if you werent buying a new $10k grill

Im debating just pulling the thing apart and rigging some expanded metal to replace the grate or have a buddy with a welder help me rebuild the grate.

they told me I could call cust service to see if they still had parts

here is the #
800-752-3085
ask for Gordon

Im thinking about buying a stainless Weber next - but they are HIGH as hell too

[ZeusSVT]

I have owned quite a few grills over time. Most I bought were the "on sale" during holidays ones for a few hundred bucks. Most of them didn't last a full summer before starting to rot, or didn't heat evenly across the Grill.

When we bought the new house in May, I decided it was time to get a REAL one this time that was worth the money. I bought the Weber S320, Stainless Steel inside and out and I have used it almost every day this summer. :tongue: Best Grill I have ever owned. I bought mine at Lowes and snatched one of those 10% off coupons from the post office moving packets and got it out the door for less than $900. :tu:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=305696-505-3780001&lpage=none

[gagspa]

I have owned quite a few grills over time. Most I bought were the "on sale" during holidays ones for a few hundred bucks. Most of them didn't last a full summer before starting to rot, or didn't heat evenly across the Grill.

When we bought the new house in May, I decided it was time to get a REAL one this time that was worth the money. I bought the Weber S320, Stainless Steel inside and out and I have used it almost every day this summer. :tongue: Best Grill I have ever owned. I bought mine at Lowes and snatched one of those 10% off coupons from the post office moving packets and got it out the door for less than $900. :tu:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=305696-505-3780001&lpage=none
My father-in-law uses his Weber grill almost everyday. He was using it when I met him over 10 years ago. Who knows how long he has had it.

[Moonshine]

Like Michael, I've owned a bunch (all in the $200 range) and none has ever lasted more than a few years before rusting out. My current Char-Grill is about to die after 3 years of use. I've done a bunch of research, and as soon as mine goes completely TU I plan to buy a Weber. I plan to get the Genesis E-310, which is cheaper than the all stainless S320 (by $250), but has the exact same warranty on every part and is the same size. Every single person I've talked to who has a Weber swears by them, and says they're worth the investment. Lowe's and Home Depot both carry them, and they never put them on sale. Thanks for the moving packet discount tip. TALON group buy? :tu:

[Sandman]

I went ahead and got the char griller so I could play around with the different cooking techniques. It won't last forever.. hopefully I can get 3-4 years out of it. Then maybe I'll consider something else.

As far as bbq galore, I saw the same attitude. I've already gotten someone interested in my grill, otherwise you could have my briquets and trays. I'm not sure they would fit your grill. If it falls thru and I end up just throwing the grill away, I'll let you know. Then if you want the briquets and trays they are yours. That was one good thing about that grill. Few flare ups and with the briquets I could bring it up to heat and then turn the burners to low. The briquets would hold the temp just fine.

Most peeps that have ever owned a Weber do swear by them. Then I've seen others call them overpriced and not worth it. Maybe they couldn't afford one :P. Unless I know the grill will last at least 10 years I would have a real hard time dropping 900-1000 on it.

I've still got to put my char griller together, but I'll let yall know what I think of it once I get it going.

[Silver_2000]

I loved it when it was new
the heat it would put out was incredible ...
If yours was a 3 burner the stuff should fit

Let me know if it falls through

[ZeusSVT]

Like Michael, I've owned a bunch (all in the $200 range) and none has ever lasted more than a few years before rusting out. My current Char-Grill is about to die after 3 years of use. I've done a bunch of research, and as soon as mine goes completely TU I plan to buy a Weber. I plan to get the Genesis E-310, which is cheaper than the all stainless S320 (by $250), but has the exact same warranty on every part and is the same size. Every single person I've talked to who has a Weber swears by them, and says they're worth the investment. Lowe's and Home Depot both carry them, and they never put them on sale. Thanks for the moving packet discount tip. TALON group buy? :tu:

No problem. It's a lowes 10% off coupon that is in the packet....but both stores will take it, without issue. I use them at the Home Depot next to my house about once a week. Come to think of it, I think it's time for a trip back to the post office to restock on moving packets. :d




Most peeps that have ever owned a Weber do swear by them. Then I've seen others call them overpriced and not worth it. Maybe they couldn't afford one :P. Unless I know the grill will last at least 10 years I would have a real hard time dropping 900-1000 on it.


That would be my exact guess. :d

I had heard about the webers before buying mine this summer, but had never really "researched" it really. After jumping around on some forums and consumer research websites that were non-biased websites, I decided it was gonna be well worth the investment. I went with the 320 just to have the burner so I could do all the cooking outside and not have to go to the kitchen for the stove at all if we were grilling.

Hands down, this grill cooks meat better than any grille I have ever owned. Nothing like being able to turn a grille up to about 700 degrees without issue within minutes and perfectly searing a couple of thick steaks and then knocking it down to cooking temp and finishing them off to perfection. :bows

[dboat]

I am on my second Ducane.. The first one was great and had a lifetime warranty.. they replace the entire lower unit (including the burner, controls, etc. just not the grate where the fake charcoal went) free of charge once. It lasted over 10 years, well worth the money.. Ducane went out of business and was bought by Weber.. so this one, I got on sale off season, is a year old and is doing well.. best thing you can do for your grill is buy a top notch cover for it when it isnt being used.. just keep the weather off of them, and if possible keep it out of the weather, with the cover on it like under the patio(if your patio is covered). The original cover for my Ducane, was really really nice, very thick, nice lining and lasted almost as long as the grill itself.. I bought a cover for this one but its falling apart after about 1.5 yrs, so I may have to shop for a nicer, heavier duty one on the WWW.

Dana

[mikelemoine]

Anyone know if the Weber S320 can be modded to a built in outdoor kitchen setup? I see the drop in grills and all are $1200 and up. I want to get a good grill that I can build into my outdoor kitchen but need one that will last and cook evenly.

Any ideas anyone?

[ZeusSVT]

Anyone know if the Weber S320 can be modded to a built in outdoor kitchen setup? I see the drop in grills and all are $1200 and up. I want to get a good grill that I can build into my outdoor kitchen but need one that will last and cook evenly.

Any ideas anyone?


Haven't seen it done on any of the grilling forums.....but you never know. I am sure it could be modified in some sort of way if you are krafty as fabbing stuff up.

[Moonshine]

I picked up one of the Lowe's moving pack coupons and the fine print clearly states it cannot be used on any product made by Weber (or John Deere). Asshats. :hammer:

[ZeusSVT]

I picked up one of the Lowe's moving pack coupons and the fine print clearly states it cannot be used on any product made by Weber (or John Deere). Asshats. :hammer:

That didn't stop me from trying it. Most of the cashiers have no idea about it. In fact the one that checked me out used the coupon and then gave it back to me. :icon_eek: So I turned around and used it again the next day to buy the Weber grille cover. :evil

[kirkmears]

oh...

http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com/grillz_detail.jpg

[Moonshine]

Well, now having done a bit more looking I think what I want is the Genesis EP-310 instead of the E-310. An extra $35 gets you the stainless steel cooking racks and flavorizer bars that are warranted 3 years longer than the porcelain coated cast iron. Seems worth the extra $35, but Lowe's doesn't carry the EP-310. I found a place with free shipping and no sales tax, which would make up for the 10% coupon.

[Silver_2000]

the s-310 is the one Im looking at

All stainless - ITs kinds crazy because its not the outside that fails on my grills ...

[Moonshine]

the s-310 is the one Im looking at

All stainless - ITs kinds crazy because its not the outside that fails on my grills ...

And the warranty on the all stainless isn't any longer than the warranty on the EP-310. I like the look of the all stainless, but I don't like it $200 worth.

[Silver_2000]

And the warranty on the all stainless isn't any longer than the warranty on the EP-310. I like the look of the all stainless, but I don't like it $200 worth.
Good to know

Too bad we cant do a group purchase.. :evil

[Sandman]

I'm sure Webers are fine, but if you get a Walmart brand grill with stainless, try this first. Go find a magnet somewhere and see if it will stick to the grill. The lower quality ss is magnetic and it will rust.